Match-box



(No Model.)

J; E. KAUFMANN.

MATCH BOX.

No. 583,907. Patented June 8,1897.

WITNESSES." (0%. W 62 0%;

I I v I 1 INUENTOH I t UNITED STATES 'ATENT reins.

JULIAN EUGENE KAUFMANN, OF LEXINGTON, SOUTH CAROLINA.

MATCH-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 588,907, dated June 8, 1897.

Application filed February 11, 1897. Serial No. 622,945. (No modeLl To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, J L'LIAN EUGENE KAUF- MANN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Lexington, county of Lexington, and State of South Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Match-Boxes, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

My invention relates to improvements in that class of match-boxes designed to deliver but one match at a time; and the object of my invention is to provide a simple inexpensive article of manufacture, easy to operate, and adaptable for use in public places, where the abstraction of a quantity of matches by an unscrupulous person cannot be accomplished without considerable trouble. I accomplish this object by means of the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved match-box constructed and arranged according to my invention. Fig. 2 is a crosssectional elevation on a line no a), Fig. 1, illustrating the device in its closed or normal position; and Fig. 3 is a bottom or under side view, as will be hereinafter more fully described.

In the construction of a match-boxaccording to my invention the box or match-receptacle is of rectangular contour and its longitudinal length inside a trifle more than the length of a common match. The lower front and rear edges of said box are cut away to admit flush with its sides a horizontal blade or tongue B, extending at a right angle to the plane of its base E. Said box is designed to slide freely on this blade and is held in position by cleats c a, that are screwed or Otll6P wise fastened-to the under edge of the box,

and by means of spiral springs C C, attached, respectively, at their inner and outer ends to the cleats on either side and the under side of said blade, the said box is normally maintained in a closed position.

The extreme end of the blade B, overlapping the box on eitherside, limits the forward movement of said box, under the influence of the springs, when it is in its normal position to deliver a match, and the base E performs a similar f auction in the backward movement of the box, and also furnishes ameans to attach the fixture by means of screws to the wall of a room, (he.

The box is further provided with a beveled construction or inclined plane A on the inside, which construction and arrangement preclude any possibility of the device be coming inoperative when the supply of matches in said box are reduced toafew, and also reduces the agitation of the matches toa minimum during the operation of sliding the box along the blade, as only a very few come into direct contact with it at any one time.

The box is also further provided with a lid or cover A, which may slide in grooves or be otherwise attached to the box, but preferably it is hinged, as illustrated in the drawings, and provided with a suitable lock A The cover is further provided with a roughened plate or surface D for usein striking a match.

As a means of delivering the matches the blade B contains a longitudinal groove B on its top face of a depth consistent with the thickness of the match and also provided with a rounded cavity on either side of said groove near the center of the blade to facilitate the removal of the match from said groove.

In the operation of the device, the box or match-receptacle being in its normal position, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the groove B will have a match therein, and in the act of pushing the box back, as shown in Fig. 1, the match is carried outside the box and lifted from the groove with the finger.

hen the box is released, it is obvious that the springs O C will force it back to its normal or closed position.

Having thus described the nature of my invention, I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction and arrangement of parts as shown in my drawings, but may vary the same in any manner to better carry out the principle of my invention without departing from the true scope thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In a matchreceptacle adapted for deliver- IOO ing one match at a time, the combination of In testimony that I claim the foregoing as a spring-controlled sliding box, with a horimyinvention I havesigned myname, inpres- 1o zontal stationary blade having a beveled ence of two Witnesses, this 5th day of Februgroove therein adapted for receiving a match, ary, 1897.

5 and springs attached to said box and blade JULIAN EUGENE KAUFMANN.

respectively, for maintaining a closed posi- Witnesses: tion of the receptacle after use, substantially HENRY ASBURY SPANN,

as set forth. SAMUEL GEORGE. 

